Trash impeller



G. D. Luck TRASH IIPILLIR Origini rund Jul! 8.. 1916 Y c: Z a Im' imam n. 1,207,580, da

- Sept. 9, 1924.

jf--UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2:'GE0RGE D. LUCE, 0F WATERTOW N, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T LUCE CANE HARVESTER CORPORATION, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., .A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

TRASH IMPELLER.

` :To all whom timay concern:

ilo

Beit known that I. GEORGE D. LUCE, a

. citizen'of the United States, residing in Watertown county of Jefferson, and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trash Impellers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device which is designed to prevent an 'accumulation of trash fronl'interfering with the proper operationof 1rotary cutting knives, or other rotating arts, which must of necessity be placed re atively close4 to the ground in varlous types of harvesting machinery, and the My inventionl is particularly useful in connection with sugar cane harvesters such,

for instance, as the general type invented b me and illustrated and-described in my S. Letters Patent No. 1,053,917 for cane strippers, patented Feb. 18, 1913. In this class of .apparatus the standing cane, which severed by is in more or less erect position, is preferably severed ata-.point close to the ground by means of cuttin knives, which are owen-driven and usua 1y mounted on ,vertical shafts. In many districts the cane fields are ,covered with an accumulation of trash which may. include al1 sorts of vegetable growths, and also portions of the stalk or leaves from sugar cane which has been harvested in previous seasons. When it is attempted to force a sugar cane harvester throughcane growing ina eld of this sort, any rotating shaft, or like part which maybe near enough to the ground to encounter this vtrash will immediately become wound around with the trash Yuntil its operation is serious'lIyl-limpaired, if not rendared impossible. is 1s particularly the case ywithreference to the vertical shafts carrying ,the rotary cutting knives or socalled fbottom cutters which are found at the lforward. end of the type of harvester referred to, Through the necessary operation of these harvesters, the cane which is knives must Apass between the vertical shafts carrying them, and if this space'becomes clo ged by trash winding itself about the sha A the successful operation' of the harvester becomes impossible. My invention, therefore, rovid means preventing an` accumu ation of trash .f about such rotating shafts and. .1s designed,

ted December 5, 1916, Serial No. 108,176, led July 8, 1916. Application for reissue filed October 2, 1919. Serial No. 328,065.

not only yto make it impossible for the trash to wind itself about these shafts, but is also eicient in forcibly removing such trash as may `present itself 'in the regionof the cutting knives and thermechanism which operates them, and passing it to the rear.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, i

.Figure 1 isa perspective view `showing one embodiment of my invention applied toa. machine such as that described 1n my prlor patent above referred to;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical side elevation, partsbeing shown in central section, of one of the shafts and its associated mechanism; v

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in` Figure 2, parts being shown in vertical section for the sake of clearness;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on lines IVIV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a modification;

' yFigure 6 is a transverse sectional lines VI-VI of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view on line VII-VII of Figure 5.

view on Referring to the drawings in detail, the A provided with .a bearing 9 in the varm 1.

The. upper end of the shaft isslidably secured to a sprocket wheel lO driven by a chain 11 from any suitable source of power. Similarly the knife 6 is mounted upon a hub 1.2 secured to the shaft 13 journaled in the arm 2 and slidably secured at its upper end to the sprocket Wheel 14, driven in any vsuitable Inanner, as by means of the chain 15. These knives rotate toward each other in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows in Figure `1.

As above indicated, if the shafts 8 and 13 are unprotected, the propulsion of the cane harvester through a cane eld containing any considerable amount of trash will result in the trash winding about the shafts and cloggin the space between them so as to prevent the proper operation of the harvester, and in many cases, make the cutting of cane impossible. To overcome this, I provide the shafts 8 and 13 with trash impellers, each of which may consist of a ower section 16 lprovided with outwardly extending fins or blades 17 and 18, which are preferably curved in opposite directions, as Je early shown in Figure 1. This lower section may 'be secured to the hub 7 in' any suitable manner, as by means of the screws 19. The impeller may a-lso be provided with an upper section 20 having the outwardly extending fins orlbladcs 21 and 22, preferably curved similarly to the fins or blades 17 and 18, and adapted to overla them and slide verticallyv along them. T e, shaft 8 may passffreelythrough the hub 23 of the upper section of thek impeller, and a spring 2 may be provided for raising the upper section along the shaft until the upper surface of the hub 23 engages a spacing collar 25, through which the shaft 8 is free to slide.

ln` practice, -it is frequently desirable to raise or lower the shafts S and 13 so as to vary the distance which the knives 5 and 6 are from the surface of the ground.' Consequently, the distance between the knives and the arms 1 and 2l is also subject to adjustment, and it is desirable to provide means for protecting the entire length of the shaft between the armV and the blade irrespective of what it ma be. In the apparatus just described, tins is accomplished through the overlapping of the fins or blades of the upper and lower Sections of the im,- pller, the spring 24 always servin to keep t 25 ould the distance between the knife 5 and the"` arm 1 be reduced, the ins or blades of the impeller will merely slide past each other for a correspondin ly greater distance, and likewise, if the istance be tween the knife and the arm is increased, the amount of overla `ping of the fins or blades will be correspon ingly reduced. The shaft 13 is provided with an exactly similar arrari' ment exce t that the impeller on this sha "1s preferably arranged at right angles tothat upon the shaft 8, so that 9() degrees of movement of the shafts 8 and 13 is the maximum required to bring the blade of one impeller into action in the space between the shafts. As shown in the drawings, the trash impellers are preferably of less diameter than the rotary disc cutters so that the finslor blades do not reach to the edges of the cutters. Where vthe cutters overlap as illustrated, the fins or blades pref-` erably Ahave a radial length less than the radii of the cutters, minus the amount of overlap. This construction provides for -a' free passageway for the butts of the cane uper section resting against t e collarv BEST AVAILABLE COPY stalks between the impellers without interference from the latter.

In Figure 5 I have illustrated a modified form of construction in which the arm 1 is provided with a peripheral roove 27 which rotatably receives a shoul er or inturned fiange 28 of the'upper impeller section 29. This section is provided with two pairs of outwardly extending hns or blades 30 and 31, which are referably curved as shown in Figures 6 an 7 and which are adapted -to receive between them the curved fins o`r blades 32 vand 33, respectively, of the lower section 34 of the impeller. This section may consist, as shownin Fi ires 5, 6 and 7, of a single piece,l of metal orming the two fins or blades and one-half the hub', to which is secured the second half 35 of the hub in any suitable manner, as by means of rivets 36. It will be seen that theyaction of the device of Figures 5, 6 and 7 is similar in many respects to that of the mechanism shown Figures 1 and 2 except for the fact that the upper section of the impeller is rotatably suspended from the arms of the frame insteadv of using a sprin to cause the ksepara` tion of the fins or bla es and in the case of the device last described the lower section of the impeller is adapted to be received telescopically within thev two vpairs of fins or blades `with which the upper section is provided. As before, thelower section is preferablydriven from the hub to which each knife is secured, as by means of the screws 37.A The'device of lFigures 5, 6 and 7 provides the same collapsing feature by which the distance between the knives and the arms of the frame may lbe adjusted without interferingy with the efficient operation of the impelle'rs.

While I have illustrated and' described only certain specific embodiments of my invention, I realize that it is susceptible of vwide application and I do not desire to be limited to the precise structure shown and described.

Having thus described my kinvent-ion, I

`claim i l, In combination, in a machine designed to be operated in a region containing refuse v or trash, an exposed shaft and a' two-part horizontally divided trash impeller therefor.

2. In combination, in a machine designed to be o erated in a region containing refuse or tras an exposed shaft, and a trash peller therefor including overlapping fins or blades mounted on said shaft.

3. In combination, in a machine designed to be o erated in a region contaningrefuse or trash, an exposed shaft 'and a trash i'l'npellertherefor including telescoping fins or lade mounted on said shaft.

4. n combination, in a machine designed to be operated in a region containing refuse or trash, an exposed 'shaft anda plural part 130 with trash `'impeller therefor mounted on said shaft, 'said parts being relatively adjustable.

5. In combination, 1n a machine designed to be o erated in fa re ion containing refuse ort an exposed shaft and a plural part trash impeller therefor, a iin or blade on one nf said parts and a iin or blade on the other of said' parts overlapping that on the first. 6. Incombination, 1n a machine designed tobe o erated in a region containing refuse or tra an exposed shaft and a plural part trash impeller therefor, a iin or blade on one of saidparts and a fin or blade on the other of said parts overlapping that Aon the first, said parts being relatively adjustable.

7. In' combination, in a machine designed to beoperated in a region containing refuse or trash, an exposed shaft and a plural part trash impeller therefor, a fin or blade on one of said parts and a fin or blade on the other of said parts overla ping that on the first, said parts-being te escopicallv adjustable.

p8. In `Acombination, in a machine designed to be o rated in ya regioncontaining refuse or tras -an exposed shaft, a plural part trash impeller-therefor providedY with projcting fins or blades, and means for separatin said parts 4axially of said shaft.

9. n combination, in a machine designed to be o rated'in a region containing refuse or tras an exposed shaft, a plural part trash impeller therefor provided with projecting fins or blades, and resilientmeans fortseparating said parts axially of said '10. In combination, in a machine designed to be operated in a region containing refuse or trash, an exposed shaft, a plural part trash impeller therefor provided with projecting fins or blades, and a spring for separating said parts axially of said shaft.

11. In combination, a shaft, a. support therefor, a knife on said shaft, the distance between said knife and support being variable, and a plural part trash impeller for said shaft between said support and knife.

12. In combination, a shaft, a support therefor, a knife on said shaft, the distance betweensaid support and knifebeing variable, a plural part trash impeller for said shaft, said impeller being axially adjustable `with respect to said shaft.

13. In combination, a shaft, Ia support ltherefor,a knife on said shaft, the distance tween said support and knife being variable, a plural part trash impeller for said shaft, said impeller being axially adjustable respect to said shaft, and means for causing said impeller to extend through the space between said support and knife irrespective of the adjustment of the latter.

14. In combination, a shaft, a support therefor, a knife on said shaft, the distance between said support and knife being variable, a plural part trash impeller for said -a disc cutter mounted on t shaft, said impeller being axially adjustable with respect to said shaft, and automatic means for causing said impeller to extend `throughthe space to be protected between said support and knife irrespective of the adjustment of the latter.

l5. In combination, a shaft, a support therefor, a knife on said shaft, the distance between said support and knife being variable, a plural art trash impeller for said shaft, said impe ler bein axially adjustable with respect to said s aft, and resilient mea-ns for causingxsaid impeller to extend through the space to be protected between said support and knife irrespective of the adjustment of the latter.

16. In combination, a shaft, a supp therefor, a knife on said shaft, the distance between said support and knife being variable, a plural part-trash impeller for said shaft, the arts of said impeller being relatively axia ly adjustable with respect to said shaft.

17. In combination, a shaft, a support therefor, a knife on said shaft, the distance between said ksupport and knife being variable, a plural part trash im ller for said shaft, the parts of said impel er" being relatively axially adjustable with respect to said shaft, and means for causing said impeller f to extend through the space between said support and knife irrespective of the adjustment of the latter.

18. In combination, a shaft, a support therefor, a knife on said shaft, the distance between said support and knife being variable, a plural part trash impeller for said shaft, the parts of said impeller being relatively axially adjustable with respect to said shaft and automatic means for causing said impeller to extend through the space to be protected between said support and knife irrespective of the adjustment of the latter.

19. In combination, a shaft, a support therefor, a knife on said shaft, the distance between said support and knife being variable, a plural part trash im eller for said shaft, the rts of said impellbr being .relatively axia ly adjustable with respect to said shaft, and resilient means for causing said impeller to extend through the space to be protected between said support and knife irrespectiveof the adjustment of the latter.

20. In combination, in a machine of the character described, an upright rotary shaft, a disc cutter mounted on the lower end of said shaft, and a trash impeller on said shaft having a maximum diameter less than the diameter of said disc cutter.

21. In combination, in a machine of the character'described, an upri ht rotary shaft, e lower end of said shaft and a trash impeller on said shaft comprising fins or blades projectin in opposite directions therefrom above disc cutter, the radial length of said fins or blades being less than theV radius df slid disc cftterk 22. In combination, in a machine of the character described, a, pair of apri ht parallel rotary shafts mounted side by s1 e, cooperating rotary disc cutters mounted on the` lower ends of said shafts, and trash imllefs for the shafts provided with projectlng fins or blades, the radial length of said fins or blades being lets than the radii of aid disc cutters.

28. `in combination, in a; machine ofthe character described, a pair of upright laterally spaced rotary shafts, cooperatin disc cutters mounted on the lower ends o said lrats, and trash impellers for said shafts provided with projecting fins or g blades, thev radial length of said finacr blades being e'ss than one lnllrthje distance between the shafts,-fwhereby the the of revolution of Said trash 11ers ot overlap.

24. In com` nation, in a machine of the character described, a pair of laterally spaced upright rotary shafts, disc cutters mounted on the lower ends of said shafts,

und trash* impellere for said shafts provided with broald substantially vertical fins or bladeny` extending" subatantialfly radially from said shafts and rearwardly curved at their man outer edges, the radial length of saidv fins or blades being less' than the radii of said disc cutters.

25. In' combination, in a machine of the character" described, a pair of laterally spaced upright rotary shafts, overlapping disc cutters mounted on the lower ends of said Shafts, Said cutters rotating towards each other and rearwardly in the direction of travel of the machine, and trash impellers for said shafts provided with projecting fins or blades', the radial len h of sai-d trash impellers being less than t e radii of the discs cutters by an amount atleast as great as the overlap of the cutters.

26; In a cane harvester provided with conveyor chains or the like for conveying the cut cane stalks through the machine after severance from the ground, the combination of al pair 0f upright laterally spaced rotary shafts, cooperating ydisc cutters mounted on the lower ends of saidl shafts, and trash impellers for said shafts provided with projectin are Grillades of lees radial length than ghe radii of the disc cutters, whereby the free passage' rearwardly of the cane stalks between the shafts, and irnpellersf,l is

permitted.

`GEORGE D. LUCE. 

